More Than 6,500 Delawareans Sign Up On State Health Exchange

DOVER, Del. (AP) - Federal officials say slightly more than 6,500 Delaware residents have signed up on the state's health insurance exchange as of March 1.

The numbers released by the Obama administration on Tuesday are lower than the roughly 7,000 enrollees as of Feb. 28 that were reported by state officials last week.

Delaware officials noted that the state's total includes those who enrolled directly with their insurance company for coverage under the Affordable Care Act, as well as those who enrolled through the exchange.

Delaware officials had hoped to enroll 35,000 of the roughly 90,000 uninsured Delawareans in plans under the exchange before open enrollment ends March 31.

But federal officials recently set a target of 8,000 enrollments on Delaware's exchange, less than one-fourth the initial goal set by state officials.